Background
Lucas was born in Auckland in 1931, the son of All Black Fred Lucas.
Lucas was born in Auckland in 1931, the son of All Black Fred Lucas.
He was educated at Mountain Albert Grammar School, where he excelled at rugby and swimming.
In 1952, despite being rated the second-best swimmer in the British Empire, his nomination for the New Zealand team for the Helsinki Olympics was rejected. After his return to New Zealand from Iowa in 1957, Lucas worked in his father"s menswear store in Queen Street, Auckland, and later was a sales representative for May & Baker. He was active in surf lifesaving, having joined the Piha Surf Life Saving Club in 1944, and served as the club"s president for 16 years.
Lucas died in Auckland in 2002 after a short illness.